The Sun. — London, England, 1838-04-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE. QUEEN ELIZABETH AND HER TIMES, In Two Vols. BY THOMAS WRIGHT, M. A., 6'e.. London, Colburn, 1838. Mr. Wright's work, which consists of a series of original letters, selected 11 ith discriminatin g industry from the idited priv ate correspondence of Queen Elizabeth and her ne Cour tiers, is constructed on the same plan as Ellis's Letters, and the Marchmont Papers ; and is well calculated to throw flood of new light upon some of the most obscure passages in the eventful "' P , politi ca l hi story of England's Virgin Sove- Among the letters which the reader will peruse svith the greatest advantag e , we class the official corres .. pondence of th e Cecil, a f terwards Lord Treasurer Burghley ; Cecil, of the Earls of Leicester, Sussex, Shrewsury, Murray. of the Duke of Norfolk ; of Secretaries Was ng ham and S m i th ; and of Sir Christopher Hatton, Randolph, T hrogmort on, D rury, and Sir P. Knolly s . B ut wh i le we most ch eer f u ll y admit the great value of these ocuments, and th e i mportant service rendered to the historic d al student by their publication, we take leave entirely to dissent from the conclusions which the learned Editor in his i ntroduction. We have examineddraws from them them with some tare, and taking them in conjunction with the documents of conte mporary writ ers, t h ey neither acquit Elizabeth of the Judicial murder of the unfortunate Queen of Scots, nor Lord Robert Dudley of incapacity as Commander of the expedition for the Provi n relief o f t h e P rotestants of the United ought ces. In justic e t o t h e memory of Mary, Mr. Wright to have included her letters to Elizabeth, in a col lection of Papers published ostensibly with a view to make the actors and counsellors in the great political events of an important periodand i n our history " speak for themselves,', quently to make their own impression upon the mind of the future o f every histori an . Mr. 'Wright' s f a i t h i n the truth s tatement mad e b y t h e Mi nisters and servants of Elizabeth in theirofficial letters appears to be unbounded; and we are occasionally not a little surprised to find him draw inferences from phrases the very reverse of what they would appear to us to warrant. For example, Cecil, in a letter to Sussex, relative to the arrival of Queen Mary in Scotland, says---,, the Q uene ' s M ajestic bath these ship s in the North Seas to preserve the fyshers from the pyratts. I thynk they will he sorry to see hyr pass." Mr. Wright at once assumes these words to amount to a grave declara tion that neither Elizabeth nor her Minister wished to in tercept Mary on her voyage ; though Cecil states, in a pre vious letter, that he had refused her a free passage from France. Now, to us the language of Cecil would seem to imply a directly contrary meaning. The fleet appointed to intercept M ary was, for very poltic reason s , o stensibly ordered t o scour the Channel fora the protection of the Northern fisheries. Cecil was not such a ninny as to dis close such of his schemes as were likely to prove unsuccess ful, when he knew a disclosure would prove detrimental to the interests of his Royal Mistress. These volumes are dedicated by permissicn to the Queen, and embellished with portraits of Elizabeth, her favourite Minister Burghley, and Sir Robert Cecil. The portraits are taken from original paintings in the collection of the Marquis of Exeter, and are very beautifully executed. As a whole, this collection of letters is, as we above observed, invaluable ; though the prejudices of the Editor against the beautiful but unfortunate tialit Queen o f S cots, and his Par a bay to Elizabeth, who, afte r a ll, was a great Queen but d woman, will not fail to raise against it a host of enemies. THE COURTIAR'S DAUGHTER. In Three Vole. lY LADY STRYWAY. London, Colburn, 1838. This is a novel for the many. At such an announcement the disciples of old Jeremy Bentham and Robert Owen Will prick up their ears,in expectation of having them re galed with the doctrines of a fair and fashionable preacher of a new political and social millenium. We will undeceive them at once. Lady Stepney is no system-monge r ; but she deals extensively in the horrible, the terrible, the wild, the fanciful, the fashionable, the tender, and the improbable - -all wares in more demand among the many than all the systems of Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Scrope, and Marti nePu put together. The hero of Lady Stepney's tale is a Precious rascal, and unquestionably- would have been hanged, h ad he not taken it into his head to save the country the "Pense of his execution. But to make amends for this, the heroine is interesting, high-born, very pretty, very well edu cated, very romantic, and very much in love. The is incidents of the story are presumed to have taken Place in England since the commencement of the present century ; and as they serve to illustrat e a state of society of which some of our readers may have as faint a concep tion as we profess to have ourselves, we will give the lead ing events in a few words. The only son of a rich English Earl forms an acquaint ance with a young man of obscure birth, some low cunning, and no principle, born upon his father's estates. This fel low, whose name is Joyce, introduces the young Peer to a village belle, with whom be was on the eve of being united in marriage ; and, as might be expected, the Peer is smit ten, the lady delighted with her conquest, and poor Joyce jilted, The plebeian lover, enraged at his disappointment rows r eenge, and, to effect his pu r p ose, te ll s the young Lord some naughty stories about the brittleness of the lady's reputation of rank , wh ereupon he deserts her, marries a lady into suitable to his o wn , an d the forsaken damsel sinks a deeP melancholy. In the meantime, Joyce, who, upon the accession of the Peer to his paternal hnours, is appoi n t e d Steward, contrives to establish in the mind of Isis Lord 4 belief that his Countess has been unfaithful to hi s bed the E ar l is dangerouslyto wounded, and while confined his room, Joyce sec retly remov es t h e Countess to a sub s dungeon, where he contr i ves to keep her for So mewhere ab out twelve years, shut out from all commu nionwith her kind. Durin g a ll this time the Countess is stiPpose be dead and buried ; for to quiet all suspicions Upon this head, Joyce had managed to poison hi s quondam lev er , whom he c ause d to be interred as the C ountess. All s this air m does not l ook very probable ; but th a t i s L ady Step neY' aff , not ours. Upon his recovery from.his wound, 1' ,the Earl r emoves with his only daughter to London, were sh ines at C ourt as a political star of the first magnitude. While fillin g the offi ce of Ambassad or at a foreign Court, tfamily he no b le heiress returns to the hereditary mansion of her ; whereupon Joyce, for no conceivabl e motive, does nothin g for weeks together but plot her destruction. With that sagacity for which youn g ladies of seventeen are pro verbial, she half divin es his thoughts, and of scantly on h er guard. But course is con - her person d al safety not oc cupy her th oug h ts so exclusively as to prevent her oes thinking of any thing e l se . S he is seen by the son of her mother's l ' o Pposed seducer, a most accomplished youth, and her equal in rank, and tho consequence is a tender attachment 42 mutual as it is ardent, But Joyce, who is never idle the mischief is to he done, resolves upon the murder of .° Young Nobleman while passing through a wood at . 4 'ght to visit the noble damsel of the castle. She receives Intimation of his villainy, di sgu i ses and arms herself with a Piste], and, at the criti ca l moment, wounds the wicked steward and saves her lover. Subsequently Joyce attempts P°isen his master ; succeeds in poisoning himself; and t_it es after making a full disclosure of all his villanies, The Uountess is released, her innocence established, and the c ' U nif folks rendered as h a m ake th em. ppy as love and marr i age can " „ Of thedo peculiar m er i ts o f a novel so constructed, we leave e worl t L ents, form it s own opinion. It abounds in inci ho but they are suc h as Radcliffe and Lewis w ou ld 1,1.2uv 4li ghted t o pa i nt, We must say that we do not ap of aevelf o theitin att empts recently m a d e to rev i ve this school -wrg, THE ROBBER. Ay TN In 3 Vole. AtfrilOß OF " RICHELIEU," " THE alrsr," London, Longman and Co., 1838. the in thi s novel are all laid in England, about the oof th e 0 Restorati on ; an d t h e c h aracters are the crea -4,043.nf an int e ll ect equal to the task of giving di s ti nc t ness In divid I s sin;ple t o even common-place people. The plot °io'ls and wou l d delight us more were there less oh tiri ar , tho d eve l opment. The Earl of Danemore, Deli' en . from hi s country during the Protectorate of Crom , t k th, a d an es refuge i n F rance, where he secretly marries hi lii. g nhter of an ill ustr i ous no b leman, who elopes with t tir e subs equently repudiates her by fraud, and re tonnillg to Engl an d marries another lady, who bears him a p re : t° whom h e resolves to leave all his property, to the jildi ce of his only son by his former marriage. There THE FREEMASON'S QUARTERLY REVIE IV. Sherwood and Co. Whatever may be the principles of Freemasonry —for we belong not to the initiated in its mysteries —we believe its basis to be charity. If we cannot speak of its moral adap tation to supply the wants of an intellectual nature, we at least daily witness its ever-flowing beneficence —its kindly and fraternal efforts to alleviate the sum of physical suffer ing. The spirit of masonic charity is active —ever display ing itself in works rather than words. So far it is pre-emi nently Christian, and worthy of the imitation of mankind. Among its newest projects for advancing the best interests of its members, we find that it contemplates the founding of an asylum for such of the decayed and aged brethren as may not have the means of supporting themselves without having recourse to the bounty of the craft —a project which is ably supported by the Editor of the Review in an article now before us. Upon this question we think there can be but little difference of opinion ; and though unconnected with the masonic body, we shall rejoice to see such a temple raised to charity. The mass of masonic intelligence with which this Review abounds cannot properly be subjected to newspaper criticism. The following anecdote is one of those in which the general reader may take an interest as lively as the members of the craft. We understand that it is well authenticated : About fourteen years since, the ship Leven, engaged on a survey, commanded by Captain Bartholomew, having arrived off Cape Bolador, she got over the Bar, and anchored in the river Ouro, on the N.W. coast of Africa, about 23 40 N.L. The Captain and some of the offt, cers, with two boats' crews, proceeded to examine the river. The shore; represented, as far as the eye could discover, one vast desert of sand. The boats proceeded, after rowing for about forty miles, to what ap peared to be an island. They landed and slept there; but in the morn ing were awoke by the loud yells of savages, and suddenly surprised also by the appearance of a vast number of Arabs, who by experience they knew were not the most welcome of visitors. They were armed with long Spanish muskets, which were afterwards found to be loaded with balls and slugs; they had also long knives. Captain 8., after making some arrangements, by causing our people to be prepared for an hostile attack, which appeared inevitable, advanced to meet their leader, and being himself a Freemason, had recourse to a Masonic Sign, which to his great astonishment, as well as that of all present, was answered by their leader, who immediately laid down his musket and embraced the Captain ; mutual exchanges took place, &c. Captain B. and the officers, however, kept on the alert. The Arabs expressed a desire to procure tobacco, snuff, and even the clothing of our people; but their chief checked their propensities, so common to their tribe. The Captain and party left the island, exchanging tokens of friendship with their visitors, whose language they supposed to be Arabic They were assisted to re gain their ship ; and their chief intimated an intention of coming on board the following day : h owever, Capt. B. saw nothing of them after_ wards. The savages were armed with bows and arrows and bone headed spears ; the chiefs with long Spanish muskets. BOUT" _ HEY'S POETICAL WORKS, VoL. VI. London, Longman, 1838. This volume contains the majority of the Poet Laureat's ballads, and among others, his well-known legend of the Old Woman of Berkeley," which, be informs us in his preface, he wrote in pencil in a post-chaise, while travelling from Hereford to Abberley ; he adds, that this ballad was translated into the Russian language, where, however, it was, soon after its publication, prohibited, because it frigh tened young children ! The humorous poem entitled the " March to Moscow"—the most humorous its author ever wrote—is also included in this volume, which is embel lished with two spirited sketches by Finden—one, of St. Michel's Mount, Cornwall, and the other, of St. Keyne's Well. UNITED SERVICE JOURNAL. The present Number contains an amusing paper entitled " Overland March of the 85th Regiment from New Bruns wick to Quebec," which took place in December last, over roads and lakes covered with ice, and through woeds of immense extent. At the present period when the atten tion of most people is directed towards our Canadian set tlements, the details of this toilsome march will be found deeply interesting —especially to military men. " Diary of a Run to the North Coast of France," is a lively, sketchy journal, hit off, apparently, on the spur of the moment. HE PAWNBROKERS v. THE BRI TISH PLEDGE COMPANY. The long and sluggish tranquillity of the ominous and well known three blue balls has, it appears, been most strangely, and, as the advertisement of the trade would imply, most " un warrantably," disturbed by this new Company. The old craft appear to be all up in arms at this monstrous innovation upon fifty per cent. interest, which, from the alarm excited amongst these honest men, is evidently in very serious danger. We suspect that nothing so harassing to vested interests (not rights) had happened to any particular craft since that memorable row that took place in Ephesus about 1830 years ago, and in which " Alexander the coppersmith" appears to have cut so remarkable a figure. The men of brass, the makers of idols at that time, were downright uproarious against the preaching of the gospel of peace by Saint Paul. The opposition principle is to all appearance the same in the present case. The cry of the makers of brass and of copper gods and goddesses, it is reported, and we have no reason whatever to doubt the accurary of the report, in the streets and market-places, is " Great is Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians," which deity being made of brass or copper, gave those hammer -men more a personal than a religious ex citement at the prospective demolition of that part of their oc cupation ; and it is clear enough that, had not the civil power interfered, their sledge-hammers would soon have put a stop either to St. Paul, or to the dissemination of Christianity at Ephesus ; but, in the present day, we don't expect to see the blue balls showered at the heads of the British Pledge Com pany, though it is natural enough that parties accustomed to enormous profits should wax exceedingly wrath against those who shall presume to offer the public a better bargain for their money ! But, if this new concern should prove itself superior in most respects to that which has existed for some years, the public will then give it all the encouragement which it may d , serve, notwithstanding all the efforts of their opponents. Every one admits that it is high time some great alteration should be made in the pawn trade, as the Pawnbrokers' Act is not worth one farthing for the protection of the public. The principal object of the Pledge Society are, we under stand, to afford the public relief from the extortions to which they are subjected under the present system, to check the im morality to which this system gives rise, and to realise a fund out of the surplus income for charitable uses*. These purposes Appear reasonable and advantageous to the public, and, if we might be permitted to offer an opinion in such a case, it would be to advise the old practitioners not to make such a show of opposition to the new concern, lest the public might get it into their heads that they, the members of the old concerti, were most terribly alarmed, and that, perhaps, they had as good reason to be so as Alexander and his coppersmiths had at the time St Paul was preaching at Ephesus. We have now given them the best, because the most peaceful advice. Whether they will follow it is another question; that must be left to their own discretion. * Similar to the Monts de Piete on the Continent. PUBLIC DINNE R TO DR. PAYNE.—A public dinner was yesterday given to Dr. Payne, at the White Horse Tavern, Fetter-lane, for the purpose of presenting to him some testimonial of approbation for the public spirit he had evinced in resisting Magisterial aggression in the person of Mr. Laing, late a Magistrate of Hatton-Garden. About ninety gentlemen sat down to dinner, T. Anderton, Esq., Common Councilman, in the Chair; S. Osanodough, Esq., in the Vice_ Chair. After the cloth was removed, and " The Queen," " The Duke of Sussex, and the rest of the Royal Family resident in England," " The People," and one or two other toasts had been drunk, the Chairman rose to present to Dr. Payne a handsome silver Cup and Cover, and also a silver Snuff-box, each bearing appro priate inscriptions, that had been purchased by a public sub scription opened in the City of London, expressive of admiration of this matter, in which that gentleman had conducted him self in his prosecution of M-r. Laing, and in subseqently obtaining his dismissal from the Magistracy. The ad dress of the worthy Chairman, which was extremely judicious, was replied to by Dr. Payne in a speech admirably suited to in which he paid a weil-rnerited tribute of praise t t o he L o o c r e d as J i o o h n n , Russell for the course his Lordship had taken in dismissing Mr. Laing from his magisterial seat, which he had so highly disgraced. The company were a f terwards addressed by Mr. Galloway, Mr. Figgins, Mr. Powell, Mr. Bernard, and several other gentlemen, and at twelve o'clock the Chair man vacated his seat, and the company separated, highly pleased with the evening's entertainment. It appears from the nineteenth report of the Corn mittee on Public Petitions, delivered yesterday, that the num ber of petitions presented to the House of Commons in favour of the Ballot this Session was 353, to which 174,211 signa tures were attached ; against the Ballot only four petitions. The petitions for the abolition of negro apprenticeship, pre sented to the 25th ult., were 966, with 262,306 signatures. The total number of petitions this Session, to the 27th cf March, was 2,998, are but two persons cognizant of the Earl's first marriage, and one of these takes charge of the neglected child, who is brought up to the profession of arms, and serves with distinction in the Low Countries. The guardian of the young Earl (an English yeoman) is the- cro of the t a l e ; for on his return to 1 .:13 native land he takes to the road to keep Lis sword from growing rusty, and with a view of promoting more effectually the interests of his ward. We will proceed no further with the development of the plot, as our readers may prefer unravellin g it for themselves. Suffice it to say that the true heir is recognized and ac knowledged by his father ; that his brother is killed by the robber ; that the robber in turn inflicts capital punishment upon himself; and that the loung Earl having the world to himself " to bustle in," loves, marries, and lives happily for the remainder of his life. The conclusion is artfully wound up, and the style throughout is natural, and thoroughly English. Tlll, O SUN, LONDON, gArtifIDAY, APltitA 7, 1838. MONEY and COMMERCTi7ja-I'. . (Prom the Mornin g Papers of this day—Saturday.) MORNING r=.__._ . . _ • • ------ ne (tendency in the retorintita ;mown in the olTicfal Taltrils reit' citidrttN WI not Produced the slightest uneasiness in the City, but, Bti the contrary, th e English Stock-market contitittes very hit -h i and Consols have undergone a father ifiipiol , ellt«ot. thb lust trtotation.for mo ney and the loth instant being 93-,1 to 1, and 921 to for the May Account. -Exchequer Bills have also recovered the de pression they sustained yesterday, and are again quoted at 645. to 665. premium. The market for Railway Shares does not furnish any matter for comment, the prices being almost all the same as yester day, and business not important. The shares in the British Iron Company have advanced 21., the last price being 16 to 17 per share. The shares of the Asphalt° de Seyssel were last marked at 14 to 16 prem. ikloeNiNo Posr.—The anticipations of those who were san guine enough to believe that the falling off in the revenue for the quarter justcd ended had been greatly over-estimated have not been realised. The returns just published show that the receipts at the Treasury have again diminished to the extent of near two millions per annum, and unfortunately the present is a state of things, the termination of which appears to be almost as distant as ever. The intelligence received this morning from Canada was, it is true, of a favourable com plexion. The civil war in that country has been so far suppressed as to render any future attempts on the part of the insurgents to overthrow the established Government improbable, and much of the expense about to be in curred by the mother country will, it is to be hoped, b e avoided. The stock markets felt the influence of this intelligence in rather a sensible degree, as will be shown by our quotations. The Public Securities, instead of declining in consequence of the continued falling off in the national re sources, have experienced an advance of R per cent.--a change that could not very well have occurred but for the intervention of some counteracting circumstances. The advices from the United States, which arc a week later than those previously received, have perhaps contributed in a trifling degree to give confidence to the moneyed interest, as they hold out a promise of an almost immediate improvement in the commercial affairs of that part of the world. Goods were arriving from England in larger quantities than they had done for many months prior to the sailing of the packet, and it was considered certain that the demand for them must in the course of a very short time become general. The banks at New York and in other parts of the State would, we are assured, resume the pay ment of their notes in specie on the 10th of the ensuing month of May, as or i g i na ll y arrange d , whatever might beb determined upon in the neighbouring districts. The merchants were anticipating the most important results from this step, and they continued to have the greatest confidence in the practicability of the measure. United States Bank Stock is d q e u l o p t h e i d a e t o exchange f gvn r n o oosua m mtrwi tNoleihfareeelpwfapsopealrlrermlorionrefrkgre,l at nta,t4dc2a.:49,lcohlea:dtl: exclusivef advancedr4o. m ,S P e h a i c l otha to preen. l:i e e s acne cent. evri Sovereigns r g e f e a i wh 2 ich i t c o B h l 3 g l i h this s s i e de ac o lv f i t e l e le s cannotAtlailti Atlantic. foil I t t o s h e : m v viewed t rs o 'e - d be • prem., or ab ou t satis factioncharges. cer tain, however, that the Sub-Treasury Bill would pass the withpret pretty Senate. Very late letters had reached New York from Europe. The London line-ship Ontario, w h ic h • sailed from Portsmouth on the 10th of February,• h it with of much interest, was just enterin g h er port as the outward-bounr packet came away. Mr A- -ORNING _DVERTISER —The falling off in the receipts 0 , the revenue having being according to the official statement rather less than was anticipated, the Funds have exhibited a considerable degree of firmness to-day. Consols both for Money and Account have advanced to 93i, the closing quota tion this afternoon being merely a fraction lower. The Fo reign exchan ges h ave b een rather lower to-day. The anti cipated increas e i n t h e amount of money in circulation arising from the payment of the quarterly dividends has improved the demand for most description of Stock. TIMES.—The current opinion in the City on the subject of the quarterly return of the revenue is, that Mr. Spring Rice is in a much worse situation than he himself has any con ception of. In general, within a few months after a crisis, such as that which was encountered in the Spring of last year by the trading interest, signs appear of such a resumption of activity as is the invariable forerunner of a return to a healthy and prosperous state of commerce, and when that is the case the revenue is sure to be benefitted in the ratio of the previous depression, but there is not at present the least appearance of this kind. All prudent men are as cautious and distrustful of new engagements as if the panic still raged with its utmost violence and the rate of interest was as high as in May and June last. The deficiency in the- quar terly return does not occur on the compariso n with a pros perous quarter, but with one which was also deficient, so that the decline is a continued one, and in a most alarming pro portion, the decrease in April, 1837, being 60,0001., which is now 492,0001. Along with this adverse state of the in come of the country, it is to be borne in mind that the expen diture is certain to be very largely increased, so that there is, as it were, a combination of causes at work to increase the difficulty of making " both ends meet." With a Chancellor of the Exchequer of large and capacious views, had we the good fortune to possess one, this difficulty would be overcome without deranging any other part of the system ; but Mr. Spring Rice, who is a man of petty expedients, betakes him self to tampering with the currency as a remedy, and in the attempt to cure one evil actually inflicts another upon the 1 whole community. If anything could save us from the fever of speculation which now rages in Paris, and threatens results as signally mischievous as those which followed the Mississippi scheme, it would be that Government might take every fair opportunity of raising the money that may be wanted from the public, in stead of drawing upon his credit and compromising himself with the Bank of England, with which he ought, especially at this time, to shun all obligation. The first method would at once re s t ore t h e Money Market to a hea l thy state ; the other, by b r i ng i ng out a deluge of paper, unconnected with any mercantile demand, paralyzes it utterly, and deranges all the transactions between man and man. A slight improvement is visible in Stocks to-day. The last quotations of Consols were 933- to 931 for both Money and Account. Bank Stock was 9 003- to 9103-; India Stock, 2663- to 2671 for the opening ; Exchequer Bills, 655. to 665. ; India Bonds, 70s. premium. Exertions were made to follow up the recent re-action in Dutch Stocks, and the Two-and-a-Half per Cents, were pushed up to 54 buyers at one time, but finally closed the same as yesterday, 531 to 54 ; the Five per Cents. 99i to 991. MORNING HERALD.--The accounts from Canada have created considerable satisfaction to-day, so far as regards po litical events, but the commercial letters with which we have been favoured, give but a melancholy picture of the state of trade in those important provinces. Our commercial interests arc by no means satisfied with the mercantile information which has been received this day from the United States, which, so far as we can ascertain, has not improved since the date of the previous accounts. The posi tive determination of the New York city banks to resume specie payments on the 16th of May, has not a little tended to create much anxiety amongst that portion of our commercial interests more immediately connected with the United States, which will require some time and better assurance to dispel. At New York, the Exchange ruled at 71 a 8 premium, and United States Bank Shares at 1151 a 116. From some in fluential sources we arc enabled to mention that it is sup posed that. the Sub-Treasury Bill will eventually pass ; but it is apprehended that its influence will be extremely noxious to the commercial prospects of the United States, inasmuch as it grants to the Government the privilege of a paper cur rency, whilst the people are to be saddled with a metallic currency. There is no alteration in the character of the Commercial Money Mark e t, an d, t h oug h money i s to b e well employed, bills with good names may b e d one at 3 per cent. In the foreign exchanges we have had but very little business, and s t e jt, m r a c t n e t s s continueu f r a a e t t h u e r r e d a g g a o i o n d s s t c lhave r a o t u h n e t r r y i , n c a r l e t a h s o e u d g . h Thisth anomaly can only be accounted for by the fact, that lately there have been more deali ngs i n F ore i gn Securities and Shares. On Paris the rates rule at 25f. 771 c. to 25f. 821 c. ; on Am sterdam, at 12-4 s a 12-5 ; on Rotterdam, at 12-41 a 12.51 ; and on Hamburg, at 13 13. The increasing disposition for investment. in the British Securities, to which we referred last evening, has been more strongly manifested this day on the English Stock Exchange, and, in consequence, Consols have advanced in value, al though the public revenue has shown strong symptoms of being on the wane. PARLIAMENTARY DI VISION. SLAVERY ABOLITION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. NOES, 115. I Lascelles, Hon. W. S.—Wakefield Lefevre, C. Shaw—North Hants Lynch, A. H.—Galway Mackenzie, Thomas—Rost.shire M.Leod, R.—lnverness Mule, Hen. Fox—Elgin Burghs Morpeth, Lord—Yorkshire Murray, Right Hon. J. A.—Leith Northland, Viscount—Dungannon OTerrall, Richard M.—Kildare Ord, W.—Newcastle-upon-Tyne Paget, Lord Alfred—Lichfield Pakington, J. S.—Droitwich Palmerston, Viscount—Tiverton Parker, John—Sheffield Patten, J. Wilson—Lancashire Peel, Right Hon. sir R.—Tamworth Philips, Mark—Manchestor Plumptre, John P.—East Kent Power, James—Wexford Co. Price, Sir R.—Herefordshire Reid, Sir J. Rae—Dover Rice, Right Hon. T. S.—Cambridge Rolfe, Sir R. M.—Penrhyn Rose, Sir George—Christchurch Round, C. G.—Essex Russell, Lord John—Stroud Sandon, Lord—Liverpool Seymour, Lord—Totness Sharpe, General—Dumfries Sheppard, Thomas—Fume Smith, Abel—Hertfordshire Smith, R. Vernon—Northampton Somerset, Lord G.—Monmouthshire Spencer, Hon. F.—Midhurst Stanley, Lord—North Lancashire Stewart, John—Lymington Strutt, Edward—Derby Stuart, Lord J.—Ayr Talbot, C. R. M.—Glamorganshirc Tattered, li e W.—Banbury Thomson, Right Hon. C. P.—Man- MAJORITY- Aclanti, T. D.—West Somerset Adam, Rear-Adm. Sir C.—Clack. inannan Ainsworth, P.—Bolton Arbuthnot, Gen.—Kincardineshire Ashley, Lord—Dorsetsbire Raillie, H. D.—Honiton Bannerman, A.—Aberdeen Baring, F. Thornhill—Portsmouth Barron, H. W.—Waterford City Benett, J.—South Wiltshire Blackburne, I. J.—Warrington Blair, J. Wigtoushire Blake, V.J.—Newport Bramston, T. W.—Essex South Broadley, Henry—East Yorkshire E.—North Staffordshire Callaghan, D.—Cork City Campbell, Sir John—Edinburgh Cavendish, I-lon. C.—East Sussex Cavendish, Hon. G. H.—N. Derby Clements,.Visc.—Leitrim Co. Clive, it.n. South Shropshire Conolly, Edward M.—Donegal Dalmeiy, Lord—Stirling - Dundas, Frederick—Orkney" Dundas, Hon. T.—Richmond East, James Buller—Winchester Eliot, Hon. J. E.—Roxburghshire t. F} F E : ce : I I i ri z i k a c ou k e w :e se r os C l ,n e a y , l E Ed Right w.—Huntingdonshire inre:t.tv h ießgbcdo i e h i k eudbright Rimer, Sir E.—West Kent Fitzgibbon, Hon. R.—Limerick Co. Fitzsiinon, Nicholas—King's Co. Fremantle, Sir Thomas —Bucks Gladstone, W.E.—Newark.on.Trent Gordon, Hon. W.—Aberdeenshire Gordon, Robert—Windsor Goulburn, Right Hon. H.—Cam bridge University Graham, Sir James—Pembroke Grattan, James—Wicklow Co. Greene, Thomas—Lancaster Flawkins, J. H.—Newport, I. Wight Hayter, W. G.—Wells Hebhouse Right Hon. Sir J. Cam, Nottingham Hodgson, Rd.—Berwiek.on-Tweed Holmes, W.—Berwick.onTweed Howard, F. J.—Youghall Howard, P. H.—Carlisle Howard) IL—Wicklow Co. Howick, Vi3C.—North umberland Hurt, Francis—South Derby Hutton, Itobert—Dublin Inglis, Sir R. H.—Oxford University Kemble, H.—West Surrey K ilk, I'eter—Carrickfergus Labouchere, Right Hon. Henry— Taunton GA chester — Troubridge, Sir T. E.—Sandwich Vere, Sir C. B.—East Suffolk Verney, Sir H.—Buckingham Vivian, Major Charles--Bodmin ,Vivian, Sir R. H.—East Cornwall Walker, ft.—Bury, Lancashire Wall, . Baring—Guildford Westenra, Hon. H. R.—Monaghan White, Lieut -Col. Saml.—Leitrim Wilbraham, George—Cheshire Wilbraham, Hon. R. B.—Lanca. shire Wodehouse, Edmund—Norfolk Wood, Charles—Halifax Wrightson, W. B.—Northallerton I Yates, J. Ashton .Carlow TELLERS. Grey, Sir George—Devonport Steuart, Robert—iladdington RDENING OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. (From the Gardeners' Gazette.) Protect the bloom of Wall Trees. This may be done wel upon the plan suggested by .14r. Langelier, in a former num ber ; or with old netting or bunting, to be only removed when the weather ix fine. This, though in crdinary years late, is this season an excel lent time for grafting all sorts of Plums, Pears, Apples, Cher ries, &c., and even ornamental trees and shrubs. Rosss, as we have heard from all quarters, have suffered greatly. We recommend that all the stocks or briars, of which the heads have perished, should be carefully grafted ; for if the grafts take—and many of them will—a whole season will be saved, while such as miss are just as good for budding at the proper season. A very small piece of wood of the China kinds, most of which, except such as were in pots, have perished, will, if carefully inserted, make good growth, bloom immediately, and form a good head. Earth up Peas and Beans ; hoe Onions and Turnips ; weed every thing; thin out spinage. Planting Trees of all kinds must be promptly finished, especially as many places in the shrubberies must be made good. Fruit Trees grafted or budded last year, must be cut down to three or four eyes, unless they are for standards, and are worked near the ground, in which case they must be allowed to shoot up, and all the side shoots must be cut off close. Cuttings of Shrubs and Trees, usually propagated that way, should be planted. Let them be of the last year's growth. Seeds and berries should be sown, young seedlings planted out in nursery rows, &c. Dig all vacant ground. Sow Seeds of all kinds for successive crops ; Turnips, Onions, Raddish, Cabbage of all kinds, Leeks, Beet -root, Brocoli, &c. Always look back at the last few weeks' operations, and 1 observe if any thing be neglected. It may be too late to do some of the things well ; but, " better late than never." The May and June shows of the - Royal Society are to be held, by special desire, at Cremorne House, King's-road, the grounds of which are admirably c a l cu l ate d f or a s pl en d i d dis play. The 19th of . May, th ere f ore , an d t h e 19t h J une , be come notable days in the memorandum-books of the Nobility, scarcely any of whom are expected to be absent. The May sho w , originally intended to be held at Worton, being thus removed to Chelsea, the exhibition at Norton will be an extra one, held on the day best suit e d to t h e tulip bloom ; and the admission will be confined to the Patrons of the Society. There has been a ;very prevalent rumour for some days, that Lord Abinger has expressed a disposition to resign his office of Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, in favour of his son-in-law, the Attorney_ General w e are glad to be able to state that a reprieve has been forwarded from the Home -office in behalf of Richard Standing, the convict, who had been ordered for execution this day at Horsham, and whose case was brought under public notice through our columns. This new instance of Victoria's clemency, for we attribute the success of the other laws than those of blood. The reprieved appli cations for mercy to the Queen's humane interposition, affords another proof of the determination of her Majesty to govern society—his death could not.—llforning Herald. April 4.—Arrived the Alonzo her people by the British convict will be transported for life. His life may yet be of Legion, under o Thursday last. Go vernment s° ct jieT transportilh efrohmad oPnasis)oagare(si,2lsN6bicoifi Captain Wright, of th e under charge of loth regiment. The men arc in a state of destitution, bein,g provid e d on l y w i th titulo papers, which they are wMing to dispose of at any p r i ce . be landed at this place, to seek their different They are to homes on foot, and will no doubt be as trou b lesome to the western counties as their predecessors. An i nstance of deter mined self-destruction occurred at Passag es , w hil e the Alonzo was at anchor there. One of the Legion, name d G ray, a clerk in the 4th regiment, said to be respectably connected in was London, deprived of his titnlo papers f or some b reach of military duty, and also mulcted of his rations. When stand ie., by the galley fire, he bade his comrades farewell, and leaped overboard. lie rose twice, with his arms firmly folded across his breast, and although a rope was thrown to him from the ship, and a seaman dropped from the Comet steamer to assist him, he resolutely refused all help, and was drowned. It.is said he was ashamed to meet his friends in England. DUEL.—Yesterday morning, between five and six o'clock, a hostile meeting took place in a field near Jack Straw's Castle, Hampstead, between Captai n B-- n an d R. P. F — p--n, Esq. The rendezvous was originally fixed at Bayswater, but the parties having cause to fear an interrup tion, the place of meeting was changed to Hampstead, to which place the parties, accompanied by their seconds, pro ceeded on the previous night. The parties were placed at twelve paces, and fired two shots each without effect. The seconds then interposed, but failed in effecting a reconcilia tion, and it was then agreed that the gentlemen should have the option of advancing to within eight paces previous to fir ing. Captain B. then advanced two steps towards his oppo nent and fired, when the shot took effect in the neck of Mr. F., who immediately fell, and his pistol exploding at the in stant, the ball narrowly missed taking effect on the second of Captain B. passin g w i t hi n an i nc h o f hi s h ea d. Mr. F.'s wound was pronounced not to be of a dangerous nature, and the parties immediately proceeded to town. The cause of dispute was a sporting bet. The Captain had refused to pay, in consequence of which he had been posted by Mr. F. as a blackleg. "__J Advertiser. The inventive genius of James Perry and Co. ap pears to ha ve no end ; patent succeeds patent, and we scarcely sit down to our desk with the pleasing certainty that we have obtained the very climax of perfection in Perryan Pens, when we are again astonished with some new result, from their ac tive brain. Again, however, they claim our attention, by their patent fur the Elastic Pen Holder, which gives to writing what steam gives to travelling, ease and expedition, in spite of every obstacle. DEVIZE S EL EcTioN VlCTORY.—Speaking of the victory recently gained by the Reformers of Devizes in the return of Captain Dundas, the Wiltshire Independent says, that instead o f a majority of 7, the Captain would have beaten Mr. Heneage by 21, " if fair play only had been used ;" and if the votes had been taken by ballot, the Liberal candidate's majority would not have been merely 21, but 40 ; for many, very many, persons wholpromised and voted for Mr. Heneage, as well as others, who remained neutral contrary to their own convictions The authority we have quoted above avers that intimidation and bribery were never more extensively and effi ciently tried than at this election. There were also, he states, some instances of kidnapping. (Prom the Votes anti Proceedings of the House of Commons.) tnIIMY, Alttit 6. (In dofaimiile . 6sClaiise, " That in the Island of Jamaica no predial apprenticed taingifef, +776iflei littActed or not t o th e so il, continue contin in up; apprenticeship lie:, Onti the ist day of August next," brought iip;,iind . read;—Motion m a d e a nd Qu est i on put, " That the Clause lie rei.l.d a 106nd time: —The House divided ; '— MlNOliitf-Air.PSi 61. Aglionby, 11. A.—Cockermouth Lushingt.o!l; Di,—Tywgr Haml. Archbald, Robert—Kildare Martin, John—V. l . l tUebtily Attwood, M.—Whitehaveit Matthew. G. B.—Shaftesbiii7 . Baines, Edward—Leeds Monypenny, T. G.—Rye Barnard, E. G.—Greenwich Morris, D.—Carmarthen Blennerhassett, A.—Kerry Muskett, George A.—St. Alban's Blunt, Sir Charles—Lewes O'Brien, W. S.—Limerick Co. Briscoe, J. I.— Werbury O'Connell, Daniel—Dublin Brownrigg, .1. S.—Boston O'Connell, John—Athlone Bryan, Maj. Geo.—Kilkenny Co. Pattison, James—London Cayley, E. S.—N. Yorkshire Itcdington, T. N.—Dundalk Dashwood, G. H.—Wycombe Rice, E.lward Royd—Dover Denison, W. J.—West Sussex Salwey, Lieut.-Col.—Ludlow Denistoun, J.—Glasgow Sanford, E. A.—Somersetshire Duke, Sir James—Boston Scholefield, .I.—Birmingham Dungannon, Lord —Durham Somerville, Sir M. W.—Drogheda Easthope, J.—Leicestrr Stansfield, W. R. C.—Huddersfield Eaton, R. J.—Cambridgeshire Style, Sir Charles—Scarborough Evans, William—North Derby Thornley, Thos.—Wolverhampton Forester, Hon. G.—Wenlock Turner, Edmund—Truro Gibson, Thomas—lpswich Vigors, N. A.—Carlow Co Grote, George—London Villiers, C. P.—Wolverhampton Harland, W. C.—Durham Wakley, Thomas- Finsbury Hawes, Becjamln—Lambeth Warburton, H.—Bridport Hodges, T L.—West Kent Welby, Glynne Earle—Grantham Jervis, J.--Chaster White, Andrew—Sunderland Jervis, S.—Bridport Wilde, Mr. Serjcant—Newark Jones, John—Carmarthenslaire Williams, William—Coventry Kinnaird, Hon. A. F.—Perth Wilmington, T. E.—Bewdley Langdale, Hon .C.—Knaresborough TELLERS. Lennox, Lord J. G.—West Sussex Stewart, James—Honiton Long, W.—North Wiltshire Ward, H. G.—Sheffield HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, APRIL 3.—His Majesty having fixed this day for closing the Session, the Minister of the Interior repaired to the sitting of the two Chambers united, and closed the Session with the following speech in his Majesty's name : " High and mighty Lords : " The Session which lam now to close by his Majesty's commands is no less distinguished than the preceding, as well by the importance of the business done, as by the uninter rupted zeal with which you have co-operated in the various legislative measures which have been successively carried into effect. By the adoption of the budget and the laws con nected with it, the service is provided for, public confidence confirmed, and the burdens on articles of the greatest ne cessity have been diminished. Many other important laws have been enacted in this Session. Among the most impor tant is that relative to the transition from the old to the new Legislation, the adoption of which has caused the introduc tion of the new Legislative and Judicial Institutions, in the course of this year. " The adoption of the extraordinary expenses for the army and navy, and the unanimity of the second Chamber on that occasion, enable the Government to exert itself without re laxation to obtain a final setlement of our affairs. " Such unanimity cannot fail to confirm internal prosperity, and to obtain respect, as it supports the King in the prose cution of his designs, which are invariably directed to the welfare of the country and the happiness of the people. In the King's name I declare this ordinary Session of the states General to be closed." His Excellency then withdrew, and the Assembly broke up. DUTCH FUNDS.-ANISTERDANI, APRIL 3. - - Actual Debt, 25l per rent ...... Mor43. Bits. ............... Ditto, ditto 5 per cent. • 54% 55102 .............. 1011. 4 Amort Syndic, 4% per cent................ ............ .. 95 4 9 ! ).7 'i Ditto, ditto, 3% p er cent. ..................... 79 , 4, 79% Commercial Company, 4! per cent.......... 183 t 4 184 Ditto (1832 and 1833) 5 per cent. ........ Loan 1830, 4 per cent. ........................... .... 100 ;i 101 Ditto 1837, 6 per cent. .....................9=:34 Exchange on Londo n , O ne m0nth............. .. :2 15 Two months+ ......... 12 N 100 rCTION COMMITTEES. _ ---ruRDAY.) (From our Second Edition of last night.) LEICESTER. The Committee met at two o'clock, Lord SEYMOUR in the chair. Mr. Thessiger and Mr. Wrangham appeared for the petitioners (Tories). Mr. Harrison and Mr. Austin for the sitting Members (Liberals). Mr. TIIESIGER opened the case for the petitioner. He rested his case entirely upon the charge of bribery, and treating on the part of the sitting Member, chiefly effected through their agent, Mr. Biggs, whom he could not produce, as that gentleman had gone to America, just one week after the birth of his first chl!d, and one month after the birth of this petition.—(A laugh.) Mr. AUSTIN—Not so short a bite after its conception.—(Laughter.) arr. MESMER then read an extract from a letter of Mr. Biggs, in w hi c h t h e f a ,` . ! . er dwelt passionately upon the happiness of the married state. The reading o: the flitract occasioned much merriment, and Mr. Thessiger argued from it, with c onsiderable humour, that so loving a husband could not, without acme very ;'rung induce ment, be persuaded to cross the Atlantic, in the tent'. month after his marriage. Mr. T. contended that Biggs was sent out of i:2e way by the sitting Members, to prevent the petitioners from proving his agency. But he (Mr. T.) would be able to prove that by means of other witnesses. The Poll-books were then put in, and the Town Clerk, Mr. Stone, was called to prove their authenticity; but in his examination it was elicited, that they had been four hours out of his custody, whilst his assistant Clerk was correcting the printed lists. Mr. HARRrsoN for the sitting Members objected to the books being received on the grounds of insufficient authentication, and their hav ing been illegally out of the custody of the proper officer. After a long argument the room was cleared, and on the readmission of strangers, the Chairman announced that the Committee had de cided that the poll books should be received, but only as evidence that a poll had taken place. Mr. HARRISON stated that in consequence of that decision he should have to cross-examine the Town-Clerk, and therefore he requested the Committee to adjourn till to-morrow at eleven o'clock, which was Agreed to. HULL. Wm. Bell, a Barton voter, was retained, the: proof of identity not being complete. John Blanshard, ropemaker, Barton, was next objected to. He wag proved to have been at the beer shop at Barton, afterwards at the Swan, then on board the steamer, and finally at the Homier Tavern. None of the refreshment of which he partook was paid for by him. The Committee retained the vote. David Fisher was objected to as having been treated, but his vote was retained. John Green, objected to on the same ground, was also retained, the objection having been abandoned. The votes of -Iphn Glover and Edward Hunt, objected to by the peti tioners as having been treated, were retained, the evidence not being conclusive. The next vote objected to was that of Richard Davis. It was proved that he partook of the refreshments at the beer shop, and at the Swan In Barton, and also at the Humber tavern, Hull. Mr. Risdule, the land lord of the latter house, deposed that the refreshments were ordered by Mr. Cottley, to whom a bill had been sent in, amounting to about 201. The case had not concluded when the Committee adjourned at four o'clock. WICKLOW. The Committee assembled to-day at half-past Three o'Clock, Mr. CHARLES Wool) in the Chair. Mr. Thessiger, Mr. Keatinge, and Mr. Wrangham, appeared for the petitioners ; Mr. Austin and Mr. Close for Mr. Grattan ; Mr. Biggs and Mr. Andrews for Mr. Howard. Lists were then exchanged by the parties, and the Committee ad. journed to Twelve o'Clock tomorrow, it having been agreed, that nothing should be done at the next meeting beyond the mere opening of the case by Mr. Thessiger, in order to meet the convenience of Mr. Austin, who is labouring under indisposition. KINSALE. The Committee retained the vote of Timothy Casey. Dr. Bishop was objected to on the ground of insufficient vilue, he being the joint occupier of a house with his mother and sister. The Commit tee tetahed the vote. This left the petitioner in a majority of one. Another objection on the part of the sitting Member had been partly heard, when the Committee adjourned. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, ArRIL 6. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. The SPEAKER informed the House that he had received a petition against the return for the borough of Devizes. MALDON ELECTION COMMITTEE. The Chairman of the Maldon Election Comrriittee appeared at the Bar with their Report, stating that J. Round, Esq., the sitting Member, was duly elected, that the petition against the return was neither frivo. lous nor vexatious, and that the opposition thereto was not frivolous nor vexatious. Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a petition from Counsel practising in the Palace Court, praying they might be heard against the Marylebone Small Debts Bill. BELFAST WATER-WORKS. Mr. E. TENNENT- then rose to call the attention of the House to Life petition which he had presented from the promoters of the Belfast Waterworks Bill, and to move that leave be given to the parties to proceed with the Bill on depositing, in lieu of the declaration lodged in the Private-bill Office, a subscription list, conformable to the Standing Orders, to be proved before the Committee on the Bill. He then read extracts from the opinions of Mr. Warren, Queen's Council, and other lawyers, to show that the conduct of the Company had been perfectly legal. They had had, besides, several decisions of this House in their favour, first of the Sub-Committee, then of the Committee on Standing Orders ; and, lastly, they had the permission of the House to in. troduce the Bill. The Hon. Member concluded by moving that the parties be allowed to proceed with their Bill, on depositing, in lieu of the declaration in the private Bill Office, a subscription list conformable to the Standing Orders. Col. VERNER opposed the motion. In the course of the last Ses. sion a similar Bill underwent discussion, and was rejected. Ho believed it was intended to present a petition in opposition to the one presented yesterday; and he hoped, until Hon. Members had an opportunity of comparing the two petitions, that they would suspend their judgment. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the motion of the Honourable Mem ber for Belfast. The present question did not depend upon the merits of the Bill, but upon the equitable construction of the Standing Orders, and the equitable construction of an applica tion made in favour of the promoters of the Bill. The Standing Orders required that a contract should be entered into, and the pro moters believed that they had complied with what was tantamount to such regulation, and when the subject was referred to the Committee on Private Bills, they decided that so far the Standing Orders had been com plied with. The promoters of the Bill had done all that could be required of them. They had at present got the vantage ground, and there must he somewhat stronger evidence before the House, to induce them to ac cede to the present motion. The promoters now sought to give the op posers of the Bill, beyond all legal doubt, a bona fide subscription con tract. Upon these grounds, he thought it quite right that the petition should be agreed to. Mr. R. PALMER having attended the Sub-Committee, before which the petition was brought, felt himself called upon to justify the course pursued by that Committee. The opinion of the Attorney-General of Ireland had been obtained subsequent to the decision to which the Sub-Committee had come with respect to the petition. Before that opinion was obtained the Committee thought they had a sufficient Prima facie case before them for adopting the course they did. Mr. O'CONNELL—The Sub-Committee no doubt had a very difficult duty to perform, and they had performed it to the best of their judgment; but it did not follow that the decision they had come to was a right one. The House would recollect that it was not the same parties who were now before the House as last session. Then they came as a corporate body, and acting with corporate funds—now they applied as individuals, and pledged individual security for the works. He trusted the House would put them in the same position as if they had petitioned in time. Sir G. STRICKLAND said the petitioners went before the Commit tee in the full expectation the Standing Orders had been complied with, and the parties had done everything in their power for the purpose of complying with the Standing Orders. The Standing Orders were never intended for theperpose of taking people by surprise, and of doing injustice, and he thought the House ought to interfere, and allow the parties to go on with their Bill. Mr. DUNBAR sincerely trusted th.tt there would not be the slight est opposition to the motion of his Hon. Friend. Captain PECHELL said it appeared to him the only question wac whether the House would allow the Standing Orders to be a perfect dead letter. Mr. O'CONNELL said he did mot think it proper to resist the mo tion any further. Lord EBRINGTON thought the parties in this case should be al lowed to proceed with their Bill.—(Hear.) The Noble Lord sat down amidst loud cries of ' Divide;" but the motion was ultimately agreed to without a division, and the Bill was brought in and read a first time. Several other private Bills were advanced n stns... Mr. BAINES presented several petitions against further endowments to the Church of Scotland, or the schools belonging to that establishment. Mr. DENNISTOUN brought. up the tteport on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Bill, After some remarks from Lord G. SOMERSET, Mr. P. TnomsoN, and Mr. WALLACE, suggesting the propriety of postponing the further con sideration of the Report, it was agreed that it should be deferred until after Easter. Mr. BAINES presented three petitions from Mirfield and other places, praying that the Negro Apprenticeship system might terminate on the lst of August next. Sir R. BATESON presented petitions from Maghera and Banagha, in the county of Londonderry, against the projected system of Poor_ laws. Also two petitions from the teachers of Browne-street School, Belfast, for the total abolition of the negro apprenticeship system. NEGRO SLAVERY. Mr. BROTHERTON presented five petitions from places in Lan. caster and Durham, for the abolition of the apprenticeship system. Mr. D. W. HARVEY presented petitions from Ashton-under-Lyne, and Welsh Poole, to the same effect. Mr. BARNARD and Lord HILLSBOROUGH presented several petitions to the same effect. Similar petitions were presented by Mr. Aglionby, from different parishes in Cumberland; by Sir George Strickland, by Mr. Turner, by Mr. Caley, from different parts of Yorkshire; and by Mr. Easthope; from Leicester. Mr. COLQUHO UN presented a petition from the Presbytery of Kirkaldy, in favour of further endowments to the Church of Scotland. Lord ELIOT was anxious to take that opportunity of correcting on error, or rather an inaccurate expression, which had fallen from him on a late occasion. He had believed, and had given expression to that belief, that Colonel Jones had headed a storming party at Ciudad Rodrigo.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Ile bad since been informed that it was the forlorn hope that Gallant Officer bad commanded. In his ignorance he (Lord E.) had thought the terms synonimous r he had not, however, overstated the matter.—(Cheers.) He had been given to understand that that error had given pain to the family of a Gallant Officer; he therefore begged to correct himself, and say that the officer who commanded the storming party on that occasion was General Napier. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice that Monday he would move a Committee of Supply, for the purpose of takin:; a vote to liquidate the allowances for one quarter of those who upon the Pension List. Sir R. PEEL said he saw there was a Ballot fixed for the 24th inst., which was the day uprm which the House was to reassemble ; he thought that would be inconvenient, and that it would be better to postpone it till the following Thursday, when there were only two fixed. He thought it would meet the general convenience of the House.— (Hear, hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL said if the proposition met the general con venience of the House, he would be most happy to postpone the Ballot from Tuesday to Thursday, and in such a case he would move the adjournment of the House till the Wednesday.—Cheers ) THE TWOPENNY POST. "Arr. HALL wished to ask a few questions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relative to the Post-office arrangements. He wished to be informed whether the reduction of the 4d. post to 2d. had yet taken place; also whether wholly, or if it was only partial. He wished also to know whether it was intended that there should be any reducticn made in the 3d. post; and lastly, whether they intended to allow stamped covers in short distances. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had, in answer, to say • at the reduction of the 4d. post bad been carried into effect—the 3d. postage was to be red uce d t o 2d . .The stamped covers were in progress, when an lion. w ember of that Hou se wa i te d on h i m and said the reline. tion as so parti a l th st . it would be an unfair trial of the plan, and begged that they might not be :.!.'ued. He was not therefore to blame. NEGRO SLAVERY. ----- Sir G. STRICKLAND seeing the Hon. Member for Leamington (Mr. Mackinnon) opposite wished to ask him a question. He had been informed that the Hon. Member had an estate in Antigua the value of which under theold system had been considerably reduced, but that since the Act for the emancipation of the negroes had passed, that estate had much increased in value. Now he wished to ask the Hon. Member for Leamington if that was the fact ?—(Laughter and cries of " Order, order—chair, chair)—in the midst of which Mr. MACKINNON, and two or three other Gentlemen on fbe Conservative Benches, rose. The cries of " Chair, chair," and " Order, order" were increased, when The SPEAKER said, that even if the Hon. Member were disposed to answer the question, he should have put it to the House whether it wcted sanction such a proceeding. Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND in his own Justification, begged to state that he communicated to the Hon. Member his intention of putting the question, and the Hon. Member made no objection.—(Hear, bear, an., a laugh.) MEDICAL PROFESSION. Mr. BROI7:IERTON wished to a'k whether it was the intention of the Attorney-Ck.wral to introduce eny Bill for the purpose of amending the laws relating to the medical profession. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was fully con;inced of the urgent necessity of such a 13111. He had left the subject jrl the hands of his Hon. Friend the Member for Bridport, and he was in gre.zt hopes that he would not desert a subject to which he had paid such great atten tion. If no other Member did this Session, he should feel it his duty in another Session of Parliament to introduce a 13ill for the purpose of remedying that grievance. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE—SHAFTESBURY ELECTION COMMITTEE. Mr. BLACKSTONE said he felt it his duty to call the pt_ tention of the House to a letter which had appeared this day in the " Morning Chronicle" Newspaper, which he considered, and he thought the House would agree with ij m in considering it as a gross and scandalous breach of the privileges of this House. Ile felt the greatest difficulty in approaching the subject. He could hardly believe that a gentleman who had so long held a scat in that House as the late Honourable Member for Shaftesbury (Mr. Poulter), a gentleman of the legal profession, could have written this letter. And lie thought it would be necessary, first, to call the printer of the newspaper to the bar, to ascertain whether Mr. Poulter did really write this letter. He (Mr. Blackstone) was sure that if env of the nom Members of that Committee (the Shaftesbury) were present, they would agree with him that the statements in this letter were most unjust and unfounded. He would commence by reading several of the paragraphs in this letter, to which he wished the attention of the House to be called. First, however, he would observe that the, letter was signed " J. S. Poulter," and dated " Temple, 4th April, 1838." The letter, therefore, was not the first impulse of an unsuccessful candidate, for the resolution of the Committee, unseating Mr. Poulter, was come to on the 31st March— the letter then was written with due deliberation, and even with at Sabbath-day intervening.—(Laughter.) The letter commenced with this paragraph: " To the electors of Shaftesbury—Gentlemen, an unprincipled combination, to which I have for sometime been exposed, has been too successful. And a petition, which under ordinary circumstances, with a fair Committee, would have been voted as frivolous and vexatious, was by the effect of chance, enabled to call to its assistance the services of the most corrupt majority of a Committee that ever degraded the administration of justice, and the Commons of England. The consequence has been, that I have ceased to be your representative. The printing of the evidence taken before the Committee (by ender of the House) will exhibit to the world, the particulars of this most. flagrant and wicked case." The next sentence which he (Mr. Black. stone) would read, was in justice to a Revising Barrister who, without being compelled to do so, had come before the Committee and given evidence in the fairest and most honourable way : " The conduct of a Revising Barrister of the name of Graves in not giving the Overseer of Stour parish a full day for bringing in his list, or adjourning, as it was his duty to do, caused the first monstrous injustice to be inflicted upon me. The Committee having decided this point in my favour, after an unanswerable argument, con sented to re-open the case on the application of the petitioners," —(Hear, hear, from Mr. O'Connell and other Members on the same side of the House.) As he heard some Members cry " Hear," he would tell the House what Committee really had done. They did not re-open the case.—(Hear, hear, from Mr. O'Connell.) As the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin had been one of those who cheered, he wi s hed particul a rly t o ca ll hi s attention to the real off the vote of facts of the case. They were called on t o s t r ike . George Mullins, and as the evidence which was adduced dal not appear to the Committee sufficient to invalidate the vote, they therefore struck off the vote.—(Great laughter.) Yes, they struck off the vote of George Mullins. Counsel for petitioners then applied to the Corntiaittee for liberty to give further evidence with respect to the remaining eases of that class, which they allowed him to do; but they did not allow him to go into further evidence with respect to the case of George Mullins. He was sure that any lawyer would bear him out in saying, that they could not come to any other decision on the evidence which they had before them. The Honourable Member then proceeded to quote the next passage which, as well as we could catch it from the hurried and agitated manner in which he read it, was to the following effect : " That the revising barrister, a man of long standing at the bar, and of the same politics as the majority of the Committee, whose business it was to know the law, and to act upon it, had departed before the proceedings terminated ; but was induced to return. He declared that he knew nothing of the law with respect to the point then before them, and begged of them to instruct him." He begged here to observe, in justice to the gentleman in ques tion, that what he said was, that he knew this question would come bef , re the Committee, and lie therefore did not wish to give any opinion upon the matter. " The majority of the Committee, whose ig norance was second only to their corruption, were thus enabled to put their decision on the shoulders of this gentleman." Now he begged to say that the question was carried by a main rity of seven to four. " The next main feature of the case is this. An overseer was called for the purpose of striking off two of my votes on the ground of the non-payment of rates. His oath was contradicted by the production of two receipts, in his own handwritieg ; and I will venture to say that no judge would have per mitted a case to go to a jury on evidence so contradictory. My Counsel applied for the restoration of four votes on the poll which had been previously struck offon his evidence, but the Committee refused his application. In this way my majority was destroyed, and my scat filched from me, as much as ever a purse was filched on the highway." Now this was a gross mis-statement. The Counsel for sitting Member asked the Corn mitteeto reverse their decision, which they refused to do at that time. They were satisfied of the man's inaccuracy, but did not think that was the time for replacing the votes on the poll. The next paragraph was one which he was sure the House would agree with him in thinking was most unjust and unfounded.—(Hear.) " I was unwilling to witness in person those disgraceful scenes, but I am assured that all the proceedings of a section of the Committee were accompanied by such external and convincing signs of partiality to my opponent and prejudice to myself, as to excite the disgust, even of casual spectators. . . It appears to me that I have been made the victim of injustice, compared with which the irregular acts of all firmer Committees may stand excused." He (Mr. B.) would not trouble the House with the remainder of the letter, but would take the opportunity on Monday next of calling the printer of the Morning 6.7onick and Mr. Poulter also to the bar of the House. The Committee all ,cted to the best of their conscientious belief and the justice of the case, and he had no doubt that the individual who differed from them had come to as conscientious a decision as they had done, and would give those who differed from him the same credit which he claimed for himself. lie would now merely hand in the paper. The Clerk then endeavoured to read the letter, but was unable ei do so from the smallness of the type. The difficulty in which he was placed excited some laughter, and the house became completely convulsed, when, in attempting to throw additional light on the paper, by drawing nearer the candles, he actually set his wig on fire. Mr. BLACKSI ONE then moved that John Jeyer Poulter, Esq., of the Temp!e, whose name was affixed to the letter, and Martin Smith Metcalf, of 3, Savoy street, Strand, printer of the Morning Chronicle newspaper, be called to the bar of the House, on Monday the nth inst. Mr. ELLIOT, as a member of the Shafteebt:ry Committee, felt himself bound to say a few words, snore especially as the Hon. I:..ember had made such allusions to him as compelled him to rise upon the present occasion. However he might have differed from the members of that Cori:mittee, he never intended by that to imply any corrupt motive to them. He differed in almost every point with many of those gentlemen, but he did it honestly and openly.—(Loud cheers, and cries of " Hear, hear.") He expressed his opinion strongly, and he gave them great credit fbr doing the same.—(Cheers.) He blamed them for nothing more than what he would call an honest perversion of judgment. When he said so, he meant what one man would consider a perversion of judgment. when another differed from him.—(Cheers.) The Hon. Member had alluded to the vote of George Mullins, and the course adopted by the Committee with respect to it. Now, as to that, the House would allow him to say a few words, as he thought the Honourable Member had not put the House fully in possession of the facts of the case. It was understood in that Committee that the decision upon that vote would decide thirty-ono votes. The Committee took that into consideration, the Counsel proceeded, and the Com mittee decided that that vote was good. During the discussion upon that subject the Counsel for the petitioner taxed the other party with not bringing before the Committee the Revising Barrister, who was said to be the only person who could properly answer the case : to that it was said that it was not usual to summon a Judge to give evidence of what had taken p'ace in his own Court, and therefore the parties had refrained from summoning him. In fact, the Counsel on that side put out of all question the summoning of the revising Barrister. After the Committee had decided upon the vote of Mullins, the Counsel for the petitioner observed that he supposed they were now to conclude that they had now disposed of that class of voters.--(Hear, hear, hear.) To which it was answered—No. We have other objections to take, The following morning the petitioner's Counsel proposed to the Committee to call in the revising Barrister, in order that he might bear testimony 'as to the thirty votes that had not been brought before the Committee. Now it was his opinion, and that of a portion of the Committee, that they had disposed of those votes by the decision they had given in the case of Mullins. It wa►, however, the opinion of others that they had not. Certainly Hon. Members had a right W entertain their own opinions upon the subject, and he was quite sure tnat the opinion expressed, though erroneous, was an honest one. Counsel acre called in, and the consequence was that the Committee discovered that their decision in the case of Mullins was not a right one, Is...cause the evidence of the revising Barrister went to contradict the evidence upon which they had formerly decided.—(Hear.) The whole matter was whether they should, after having disposed at 31 votes, go again into evidence upon the 30. Looking at the evi dence of the revising Barrister, arid he thought it was very fairly and honestly given—(hear, hear)—he did not know to what party he be longed—but be it what it might he considered that the evi. (fence was given in a most fair and honest spirit. The person whose vote was alluded to as being in question was objected to because he had, it was alleged, not paid his rates in time, and the Counsel for the petitioner called to prove that fact the collector who deposed stoutly that such was the case. The Counsel for the sitting Member then put into his hands a receipt for the taxes, dated June, which contradicted his former evidence. He then said he recol lected well he had made a mistake, and put down June instead of May. Ile was asked repeatedly respecting that point, and, after asserting it pretty roundly, the Counsel put into his hands a receipt for the taxes then due, dated in May.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") The vote was retained, and he believed it was the unanimous opinion of the Com. mittee that the veracity of the witness had been much impeached. With respect to treating—treating was proved to have been carried on in Shaftesbury long before, tip to, and even after, the testing of the writ. It was also proved that Captain Matthews had sent down a large sum of money to Shaftesbury—it was traced by the Counsel front one Bank to another. It was also proved that Messrs, Chitty and BucUand were the agents of Captain Matthews, and that Mr. Iluckland had dr twn 400 e of that money by eh eq „ es, which were proved to have been paid to the publicans in whose houses the treating had been carried on.—(Hear, hear, hear.) It was sufficiently proved that treating had taken place, and on that ground he did express a very strong opinion. It was but fair that he should state on what ground it was the Hon. Gentleman opposite differed with him. Thy took this ground. First of all it was sworn to by all the publicans, that they had received no order to open OM public houses for Captain Matthews, but they had opened their houses on speculation. They acknowledged they did expect to be paid by Captain Matthews; they acknowledged that on all former occasions they had been paid by Captain Matthews, and that they did expect to be paid by Captain Matthews on this oCca.sion.—(Cheers.) „But it was proved by the publi ■